2003 Indianapolis Colts season

The 2003 Indianapolis Colts season was the 51st season for the team in the National Football League (NFL) and 20th in Indianapolis. The Colts improved on their 10–6 record from 2002, going 12-4 and reached the postseason for the second straight season. After the season, quarterback Peyton Manning was named league MVP along with Steve McNair of the Tennessee Titans.

2003 Indianapolis Colts season
OwnerJim Irsay
General managerBill Polian
Head coachTony Dungy
Home fieldRCA Dome
Results
Record12–4
Division place1st AFC South
Playoff finishWon Wild Card Playoffs
(vs. Broncos) 41–10
Won Divisional Playoffs
(at Chiefs) 38–31
Lost AFC Championship
(at Patriots) 14–24
Pro BowlersQB Peyton Manning
WR Marvin Harrison
DE Dwight Freeney
K Mike Vanderjagt
Uniform

After defeating the Denver Broncos and the Kansas City Chiefs in the first two rounds, the Colts lost to the New England Patriots in the AFC Championship Game, which saw the first playoff meeting between Tom Brady and Peyton Manning. The Patriots defeated the Carolina Panthers in Super Bowl XXXVIII. This was the final season that the team wore blue facemasks on the helmets.

Offseason

NFL draft
Main article: 2003 NFL Draft
2003 Indianapolis Colts draft
Round Pick Player Position College Notes
1 24 Dallas Clark *  Tight end Iowa
2 58 Mike Doss  Safety Ohio State
3 90 Donald Strickland  Cornerback Colorado
4 122 Steve Sciullo  Guard Marshall
5 138 Robert Mathis *  Defensive end Alabama A&M from Houston
5 162 Keyon Whiteside  Linebacker Tennessee
6 198 Cato June *  Linebacker Michigan
6 208 Makoa Freitas  Tackle Arizona
      Made roster    *   Made at least one Pro Bowl during career

Undrafted free agents
2003 Undrafted Free Agents of note
Player Position College
Tom Arth Quarterback John Carroll
Gary Brackett Linebacker Rutgers
Anthony Floyd Safety Louisville
Aaron Moorehead Wide Receiver Illinois

Roster
Indianapolis Colts 2003 final roster
Quarterbacks

Running backs

Wide receivers

Tight ends

 Offensive linemen

Defensive linemen

 Linebackers

Defensive backs

Special teams

 Reserve lists


Practice squad

  • 43 Brian Allen RB
  • 26 Waine Bacon CB (IR)
  • 60 Joe Iorio C
  • 37 Willie Miles CB (IR)
  • 69 Jim Newton T
  • 62 Rex Richards T


rookies in italics
 53 active, 10 inactive, 4 practice squad

Regular season

Schedule
Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue
1 September 7 at Cleveland Browns W 9–6 1–0 Cleveland Browns Stadium
2 September 14 Tennessee Titans W 33–7 2–0 RCA Dome
3 September 21 Jacksonville Jaguars W 23–13 3–0 RCA Dome
4 September 28 at New Orleans Saints W 55–21 4–0 Louisiana Superdome
5 October 6 at Tampa Bay Buccaneers W 38–35 (OT) 5–0 Raymond James Stadium
6 October 12 Carolina Panthers L 20–23 (OT) 5–1 RCA Dome
7 Bye
8 October 26 Houston Texans W 30–21 6–1 RCA Dome
9 November 2 at Miami Dolphins W 23–17 7–1 Pro Player Stadium
10 November 9 at Jacksonville Jaguars L 23–28 7–2 Alltel Stadium
11 November 16 New York Jets W 38–31 8–2 RCA Dome
12 November 23 at Buffalo Bills W 17–14 9–2 Ralph Wilson Stadium
13 November 30 New England Patriots L 34–38 9–3 RCA Dome
14 December 7 at Tennessee Titans W 29–27 10–3 The Coliseum
15 December 14 Atlanta Falcons W 38–7 11–3 RCA Dome
16 December 21 Denver Broncos L 17–31 11–4 RCA Dome
17 December 28 at Houston Texans W 20–17 12–4 Reliant Stadium

Note: Division opponents in bold text.

Standings
AFC South
W L T PCT DIV CONF PF PA STK
(3) Indianapolis Colts 12 4 0 .750 5–1 9–3 447 336 W1
(5) Tennessee Titans 12 4 0 .750 4–2 8–4 435 324 W3
Jacksonville Jaguars 5 11 0 .313 2–4 3–9 276 331 L1
Houston Texans 5 11 0 .313 1–5 3–9 255 380 L4

Week 1: at Cleveland Browns
Week 1: Indianapolis Colts at Cleveland Browns
Period 1 2 34Total
Colts 0 3 339
Browns 3 0 036

at Cleveland Browns Stadium, Cleveland, Ohio

Game information

The Colts had high expectations leading into the 2003 season, and hoped to start the season on the right track after a humiliating loss the New York Jets in the 2002 AFC Divisional Playoffs. Peyton Manning struggled for most of the game, throwing two interceptions in the first half. Kelly Holcomb and the Cleveland Browns suffered from similar problems, however, as Holcomb twice drove the Browns inside of the Indianapolis ten yard line, but failed to score a touchdown on either drive. With the game tied 6–6 in the fourth quarter, Manning flawlessly drove the Colts from their own 8 yard line to the Cleveland 25, the highlight of the drive being a 15-yard connection to wide receiver Reggie Wayne on a 3rd and 10 situation. With six seconds left, coach Tony Dungy called timeout and sent in kicker Mike Vanderjagt to attempt the game-winning field goal, which he connected on. This kick was Vanderjagt's first game winner since being labeled as an idiot kicker by Manning in the offseason after charging that Manning needed to show more emotion in games.

Week 2: vs. Tennessee Titans
Week 2: Tennessee Titans at Indianapolis Colts
Period 1 2 34Total
Titans 0 7 007
Colts 3 14 31333

at RCA Dome, Indianapolis, Indiana

Game information

Week 3: vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
Week 3: Jacksonville Jaguars at Indianapolis Colts
Period 1 2 34Total
Jaguars 0 3 01013
Colts 0 0 17623

at RCA Dome, Indianapolis, Indiana

Game information

After being down 3–0 at halftime, the Colts scored 17 third quarter points followed by six points in the fourth quarter to beat Jacksonville 23-13 and improve to 3–0.

Week 4: at New Orleans Saints
Week 4: Indianapolis Colts at New Orleans Saints
Period 1 2 34Total
Colts 14 10 24755
Saints 0 10 3821

at Louisiana Superdome, New Orleans, Louisiana

Game information

The Colts offense was nearly flawless as Peyton Manning and Marvin Harrison hooked up six times for 158 yards and three touchdowns. Harrison accounted for half of Manning's 308 passing yards while Ricky Williams, Marcus Pollard, and Dallas Clark threw in good receiving days as well. The Colts rushing attack was not as strong without Edgerrin James but Indianapolis still picked up 101 yards on the ground.

Week 5: at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Week 5: Indianapolis Colts at Tampa Bay Buccaneeers
Period 1 2 34OTTotal
Colts 0 0 728338
Buccaneers 14 7 77035

at Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, Florida

Game information

In Tampa on Monday Night, the Bucs scored 21 unanswered points and held a 35–14 lead with 5:09 remaining. The game began to change hands when Brad Pyatt returned the ensuing kickoff 90 yards. James Mungro scored a short touchdown, the Colts recovered an onside kick, and Peyton Manning threw a touchdown to Marvin Harrison to cut the lead to a touchdown. With 35 seconds left, Ricky Williams scored a touchdown from 3 yards out to tie the game. With four minutes to go in overtime, Mike Vanderjagt missed a potential game-winning 40 yard field goal wide right, but it was called back by a rare leaping penalty when Bucs DE Simeon Rice landed on his own player. Vanderjagt's ensuing 29 yard attempt was blocked, but kept going and bounced off the right upright and through the posts.[1]

Week 6: vs. Carolina Panthers
Week 6: Carolina Panthers at Indianapolis Colts
Period 1 2 34OTTotal
Panthers 3 0 143323
Colts 0 13 07020

at RCA Dome, Indianapolis, Indiana

Game information

Week 8: vs. Houston Texans
Week 8: Houston Texans at Indianapolis Colts
Period 1 2 34Total
Texans 0 14 0721
Colts 3 14 10330

at RCA Dome, Indianapolis, Indiana

Game information

Week 9: at Miami Dolphins
Week 9: Indianapolis Colts at Miami Dolphins
Period 1 2 34Total
Colts 0 9 7723
Dolphins 7 0 7317

at Pro Player Stadium, Miami Gardens, Florida

Game information

Week 10: at Jacksonville Jaguars
Week 10: Indianapolis Colts at Jacksonville Jaguars
Period 1 2 34Total
Colts 7 13 0323
Jaguars 7 0 71428

at Alltel Stadium, Jacksonville, Florida

  • Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST
  • Game weather: 62 °F (17 °C)
  • Game attendance: 45,037
  • Referee: Ron Winter
  • TV announcers (CBS): Ian Eagle and Solomon Wilcots
  • Recap
Game information

Week 11: vs. New York Jets
Week 11: New York Jets at Indianapolis Colts
Period 1 2 34Total
Jets 7 3 21031
Colts 10 14 14038

at RCA Dome, Indianapolis, Indiana

  • Game time: 4:00 p.m. EST
  • Game weather: Game played indoors (Domed stadium)
  • Game attendance: 56,801
  • Referee: Pete Morelli
  • TV announcers (CBS): Greg Gumbel, Phil Simms and Armen Keteyian
  • Recap, Game Book
Game information

Week 12: at Buffalo Bills
Week 12: Indianapolis Colts at Buffalo Bills
Period 1 2 34Total
Colts 0 3 01417
Bills 0 7 0714

at Ralph Wilson Stadium, Orchard Park, New York

Game information

Week 13: vs. New England Patriots
Week 13: New England Patriots at Indianapolis Colts
Period 1 2 34Total
Patriots 10 14 7738
Colts 0 10 141034

at RCA Dome, Indianapolis, Indiana

  • Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST
  • Game weather: Game played indoors (Domed stadium)
  • Game attendance: 57,102
  • Referee: Bill Leavy
  • TV announcers (CBS): Greg Gumbel, Phil Simms, and Armen Keteyian
  • Recap, Game Book
Game information

The Colts hosted the Patriots in the first meeting between the two clubs since October 2001 and the first meeting since divisional realignment took the Colts out of the AFC East into the AFC South. With both teams at 9–2 it was the latest in a season in which two teams with no more than two losses had ever met. The Patriots opened up with a flurry; an Adam Vinatieri field goal was followed by the sacking of Peyton Manning and a fumble recovery, followed by a Mike Cloud rushing score. Dedric Ward then caught a 31-yard Tom Brady touchdown throw for a 17–0 Patriots lead. Peyton Manning led two scoring drives that left the score 17–10 New England with 12 seconds in the first half, but on the ensuing kick to end the half Bethel Johnson ran the ball back for a 92-yard touchdown.

The Patriots increased their lead to 31–10 on another Cloud rushing score, but the tide turned decisively as Brady threw two picks late in the third quarter; Manning completed a 13-yard touchdown to Reggie Wayne on fourth down, then found Marvin Harrison for a 23-yard score. A six-yard Troy Walters touchdown catch in the fourth tied the game at 31, then Bethel Johnson had another huge kickoff return, setting up a 13-yard Brady to Deion Branch touchdown. Kevin Faulk was then steamrolled in the Pats' redzone and fumbled the ball, leading to a 29-yard Mike Vanderjagt kick and a 38–34 Patriots lead. The Patriots were forced to punt in the final minutes and Ken Walter laid a huge egg as his punt landed at the 50. The Colts drove to the Patriots 2-yard line entering the final minute and Patriots linebacker Willie McGinest suffered a momentary leg injury that necessitated stopping the clock. On first down Edgerrin James was stopped at the 1; on second he was stopped and Manning called the Colts' final timeout; on third he threw to the left side of the endzone but the ball sailed over everyone's heads; finally on fourth with 15 seconds remaining James was stopped at the 1 by McGinest, Ted Washington, and Rodney Harrison. The 38–34 thriller left the Patriots shaken ("I've never seen anything like it," Rodney Harrison said afterward) and left them 10–2 and the Colts 9–3.

Week 14: at Tennessee Titans
Week 14: Indianapolis Colts at Tennessee Titans
Period 1 2 34Total
Colts 3 9 17029
Titans 10 0 31427

at The Coliseum, Nashville, Tennessee

  • Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST/12:00 p.m. CST
  • Game weather: 42 °F (6 °C), Sunny and Cold
  • Game attendance: 68,809
  • Referee: Terry McAulay
  • TV announcers (CBS): Dick Enberg, Dan Dierdorf and Bonnie Bernstein
  • Recap, Game Book
Game information

Week 15: vs. Atlanta Falcons
Week 15: Atlanta Falcons at Indianapolis Colts
Period 1 2 34Total
Falcons 0 0 707
Colts 14 10 14038

at RCA Dome, Indianapolis, Indiana

Game information

Week 16: vs. Denver Broncos
Week 16: Denver Broncos at Indianapolis Colts
Period 1 2 34Total
Broncos 14 14 0331
Colts 7 10 0017

at RCA Dome, Indianapolis, Indiana

  • Game time: 8:30 p.m. EST
  • Game weather: Game played indoors (Domed stadium)
  • Game attendance: 57,149
  • Referee: Jeff Triplette
  • TV announcers (ESPN): Mike Patrick, Joe Theismann, Paul Maguire and Suzy Kolber
  • Recap, Game Book
Game information

Week 17: at Houston Texans
Week 17: Indianapolis Colts at Houston Texans
Period 1 2 34Total
Colts 0 3 01720
Texans 0 10 7017

at Reliant Stadium, Houston, Texas

Game information

Postseason
Further information: NFL playoffs, 2003-04
Round Date Opponent (seed) Result Record Venue Recap
Wild Card January 4 Denver Broncos (6) W 41–10 1–0 RCA Dome Recap
Divisional January 11 at Kansas City Chiefs (2) W 38–31 2–0 Arrowhead Stadium Recap
AFC Championship January 18 at New England Patriots (1) L 14–24 2–1 Gillette Stadium Recap

AFC Wild Card: vs. Denver Broncos
AFC Wild Card Playoffs: (6) Denver Broncos at (3) Indianapolis Colts
Period 1 2 34Total
Broncos 3 0 0710
Colts 14 17 10041

at RCA Dome, Indianapolis, Indiana

Game information

AFC Divisional Playoff: at Kansas City Chiefs
AFC Divisional Playoffs: (3) Indianapolis Colts at (2) Kansas City Chiefs
Period 1 2 34Total
Colts 14 7 10738
Chiefs 3 7 14731

at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri

Game information

This offensive shootout became the second game without a punt in NFL history, and first since the Buffalo Bills played the San Francisco 49ers in 1992. Colts quarterback Peyton Manning threw for 304 yards and three touchdowns, while Edgerrin James ran for a career postseason high 125 yards and two scores. On the Kansas City side, Dante Hall caught a touchdown and returned a kickoff for another; and Priest Holmes, who set the regular-season rushing touchdown record, rushed for 176 yards, caught 5 passes for 32 yards, and scored twice. Kansas City quarterback Trent Green threw for 212 yards and a touchdown while also rushing for 18 yards in his first career postseason game. The Chiefs defense failed to stop the Colt's offense. Kansas City's defensive coordinator Greg Robinson was asked to resign the following week.

AFC Championship: at New England Patriots
AFC Championship: (3) Indianapolis Colts at (1) New England Patriots
Period 1 2 34Total
Colts 0 0 7714
Patriots 7 8 6324

at Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, Massachusetts

  • Game time: 3:00 p.m. EST
  • Game weather: 32 °F (0 °C), cloudy, occasional snow
  • Game attendance: 68,436
  • Referee: Walt Coleman
  • TV announcers (CBS): Greg Gumbel, Phil Simms, Armen Keteyian and Bonnie Bernstein
  • Recap, Game Book
Game information

Awards and records

See also

References
  1. "Top 10 greatest comebacks in NFL history". Archived from the original on November 4, 2012. Retrieved October 13, 2009.
  2. Maxwell Football Club – Bert Bell Award Past Recipients Archived June 19, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
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